Friday, July 22
Made for the Shade: 7 Great Plants for Tennessee Shade Gardens
Tennessee is a beautiful expanse of limestone bluffs, lush green fields, and dense woodland. That means that there is plenty of opportunities to explore the “darker” side of gardening. These sheltered areas can be a unique retreat from the heat and humidity. Plan the perfect patch with these seven great plants for Tennessee shade gardens.
1. Smoke Trees are often an unexpected addition to a partially shaded area. They are pretty enough to use as a standalone specimen or can be incorporated into other plantings. It is a small tree with dark green foliage and scarlet-colored flowers. At maturity, the Smoke Tree reaches between 10 -15 feet in height. Once planted, it grows two feet per year.
2.Hydrangeas are an old-time favorite for an excellent reason. They are relatively easy to care for and bloom profusely. There are somewhere around 100 different types of plants in this species. They produce white, blue, or pink blooms in the summer and fall. You can control the color by altering the PH in the soil.
3. Ligularias are tall plants that can add a lot of impact to a shade garden. They feature large ornamental leaves and bright yellow or orange flowers. Due to their height, they tend to look the best when added to the back of the garden.
4. Foxglove plants are gorgeous shade dwellers. They reach two to five feet in height with slender spikes that boast purple to white blooms. Foxglove is a favorite of Hummingbirds.
5. Hosta Plants are probably one of the most common plantings in Tennessee shade gardens. They are straightforward to grow and come in many varieties. Not all Hosta's are suited to shade. The golden and fragrant types need full sun. A few pretty shade lovers are “Patriot,” Blue Moon,” and “Halcyon.”
6. Rosa Rugosa is a flowering shrub hedge that likes partial shade. It produces abundant pink blossoms in the spring, through the summer, and in the fall. They are highly fragrant and grow quite large.
7. Bleeding Hearts bloom from April to May, producing delicate flowers that look true to their name. The heart-shaped blooms are white or pink and appear to have a drop of blood on the bottom. They grow two to three feet high and are equally broad.
